Self-service or attended: how much you really save
At self-service you do it yourself and pay less; attended has an operator and costs more. How much? This calculator uses today’s real self-vs-attended gap (official MIMIT data) and projects it over your year.
Today in Italy attended costs on average about 13 cents per litre more than self-service (Osservaprezzi Carburanti — MIMIT, 2026-05-29).
Calculate your saving
Self/attended prices pre-filled with the national MIMIT average, editable.
How much self vs attended matters
The gap between self and attended is almost entirely labour: at attended you pay someone to fill up for you. The national average gap is about 13-14 cents per litre — pennies on a single litre, but on a 50-litre fill-up that’s around €7, and over a year of refuelling it adds up.
Self isn’t always available (at night some stations switch to attended or “assisted self”), and on motorways the gap can differ. But on the ordinary network, choosing self when you can is one of the simplest, most consistent savings. To find the cheapest self stations near you, use Rifuel.
Frequently asked questions
How much do you save with self-service?
About 13 cents per litre on average vs attended (MIMIT, 2026-05-29). On a 50-litre fill that’s roughly €6,65; with a couple of fills a month it’s tens of euros a year.
Why does attended cost more?
Because it includes the operator’s labour. The fuel is the same; you’re paying for the service of having it dispensed for you.
Is self-service always available?
Not always: at night some stations switch to attended or “assisted self”, and prices can differ. The app shows the current self price at stations near you.